Vandals devastate BMX facility

HEARTLESS vandals have broken in and caused extensive damage to the Mackay Pioneer BMX Club in Andergrove.

The attack, which occurred late on Friday evening, had gutted club members searching for answers as they put in countless hours cleaning up the widespread damage.

Club secretary and coach Sharelle English said the vandalism to the facilities would significantly hinder the club's aspirations to send 27 cyclists to the BMX state championships in Brisbane later this month.

"A member drove past early on Saturday morning and saw the damage," she said.

"There is a lot of spray painting and graffiti. There is a lot of stuff we have had to cover up so people don't see it."

The tight-knit BMX community has banded together to clear up some of the damage, with club training resuming yesterday.

"The cost of this means we won't be able to spend our money on maintaining the track," Mrs English said.

"We hope insurance can cover most of it, but you never know. We are probably going to have to look into doing raffles to help our guys get to the state titles."

A BMX bike was also stolen from the club. The bike was custom-built for talented 16-year-old cyclist Alana Brown.

She was due to ride it at the state titles.

"Alana is pretty devastated," Mrs English said. "She can't afford to replace it. Hopefully we can get a new bike before the state titles."

Club president Damien Turner spent his weekend covering up the obscene graffiti.

"We have had the forensics (police) down," he said. "Hopefully they'll catch them (the perpetrators)."

Police are investigating the break-in, as well as other likely related incidents from the area over the weekend.

Witnesses are urged to come forward and contact police or Crime Stoppers, which they can do so anonymously, on 1800 333 000.